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Why I may shun probe panel, by Dariye

As the impeachment axe dangles over Governor Joshua Dariye’s head, the embattled governor has said that he would only appear before any panel set up by the state’s Chief Judge

As the impeachment axe dangles over Governor Joshua Dariye’s head, the embattled governor has said that he would only appear before any panel set up by the state’s Chief Judge to probe him if it was properly constituted. Also, he said he would shun the panel if he is not duly served the impeachment notice.

This is coming at a time the Plateau deputy governor and the Hausa community have passed a vote of confidence in him.

Dariye told journalists, shortly after the traditional Sallah homage was paid to him, that he had not been served any impeachment notice, pointing out that serving him through a national daily was not the proper procedure.

He said: "What I am saying is that if everything is done properly, of course, I will appear before the committee. The day I was sworn-in, my oath of allegiance presupposes that I should not be afraid of appearing before any committee. As of now, I have not been served any impeachment notice. Therefore, you cannot say that what is purported to be in Daily Trust is a notice. That’s not the procedure."

The State Deputy Governor, Chief Micheal Botmang, who also spoke with journalists, said he had confidence in the leadership qualities of the governor and would always stand by him. According to him, "I want to say that I am loyal to Chief Joshua Dariye. We were elected on the same platform and we are doing the job together. I have no reason to be sitting on any wing to take over from him. I am loyal to him."

He said that he saw the whole thing as politically motivated and advised the people of the state to continue to pray to God because only Him would save the state from the present predicament.
Chief Botmang advised those who would want to cause bloodshed and mayhem in the state to desist as Plateau people would be the losers.

Speaking in the same vein, the leader of the Hausa community in Jos, Turakin Jos, Alhaji Inuwa Ali, who led his people on the Sallah homage to the governor, said he had no doubt that Dariye would come out of the present travails unscathed, adding that the governor’s survival instinct showed that he is a true Christian.
The Hausa leader pointed out that if not for the prayers of Nigerians and Plateau people, the nation would have disintegrated long ago.

Alhaji Ali was supported by another Hausa leader, Alhaji Saleh Hassan, who said that Dariye had displayed the courage of a true politician, stressing that the people of the state would not allow the governor to sink. He expressed confidence that Dariye would be in Government House to hand over to another elected administration on May, 29, 2007 .

Overwhelmed by the show of support and solidarity, Governor Dariye said that he was not perturbed by what is going on in the state.
He said that the setting up of a panel to probe him was subjudice as the case is in court. He reiterated that there was no way six people could constitute one-third of 24.

The procedure for impeaching a governor, he said, is clearly enshrined in the constitution and rejected the idea of Michael Dapianlong being the Speaker protempore, stressing that the position had no basis in law.
Reacting to the governor’s stand, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that the panel was legally constituted.

State chairman of the party, Chief Jethro Akum, said since 14 out of the 24 members have been misled to dump the party for Action Congress, their seats are automatically vacant, adding that the remaining 10 members could legitimately conduct the business of the House in line with section 209, sub section G of the constitution.